Ink cartridge mount and internal inker for rotary stencil duplicator



Apnl 4, 1967 c. s; STROM 3,312,155

INK CARTRIDGE MOUNT AND INTERNAL INKER I FOR ROTARY'STENCIL DUPLICATOR Filed Oct. :5, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR CARL S. SYR'OM ATTORNEY v C. S. STROM A ri14, 1967 V OUNT AND INTERNALINKER FOR ROTARY STENCIL DUPLICATOR INK CARTRIDGE M Filed Oct. 5, 1952 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 KNVENTOR CA /74. 5. 57/901" wNw April 4, 1967 c. s. STROM INK CARTRIDGE MOUNT AND INTERNAL INKER FOR ROTARY STENCIL DUPLICATOR 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 3, 1962 INVENTOR 674/21. 5. 87-19044 April 4, 1967 c. s. STROM INK CARTRIDGE MOUNT AND INTERNAL INKER FOR ROTARY STENCIL DUPLICATOR Filed Oct. :5, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 O O O O mmy 0 wmm MIOOOOOOOO OOO OOOO MMY INVENTOR C221. .81 Sr/Pom w 57%;;

ATTORNE April 4, 1967 C. 5., STROM 3,3 ,1

I INK CARTRIDGE MOUNT AND INTERNAL INKER FOR ROTARY STENCIL DUPLICATOR Filed Oct. 5, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 v as mvrzmon Cam. ,5. STROM I BY /5Z Q 1 April 4, 1967 c. s. STROM I 3,31

' INK CARTRIDGE MOUNT AND INTERNAL INKER FOR ROTARY STENCIL DUPLICATOR Filed Oct. 3 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 ..-./Z HHHHW INVENTOR CIQAPL. ,S. STROM Apnl 4, 1967 c. s. STROM 3,312,165

INK CARTRIDGE MOUNT AND INTERNAL INKER FOR ROTARY STENCIL DUPLICATOR 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Oct. 5. 1962 INVENTOR C4,?L S. STROM United States PatentC) 3,312,165 INK CARTRIDGE MOUNT AND INTERNAL INKER FOR ROTARY STENCIL DUPLICATOR Carl S. Strom, Purdys, N.Y. (4% Cromwell Place, White Plains, N.Y. 10601) Filed Oct. 3, 1962, Ser. No. 228,149 7 Claims. (Cl. 101-119) This invention relates to an improved mimeograph machine. One object of this invention is to provide a mimeograpli machine which is extremely compact and easy to operate, and which at the same time produces work of the same quality or of better quality than existing machines which are much larger in size.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved mimeograph machine of the type having an internally inked drum, said machine having improved means for distributing the ink through the peripheral wall of the drum.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved mimeograph machine having a cartridge ink supply external to the drum, and wherein the cartridge ink supply and the drum are part of a single sub-assembly which may be easily removed from the machine and replaced by another sub-assembly, when it is desired to change the type of ink with which the mimeograph work is to be done.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for supplying ink to a drum through the end thereof, so as to make possible to reduce the circumference of the drum.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for mounting the stencil on the drum.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mimeo- I graph machine which may be readily adjusted so that a selected portion of the drum is inked.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mimeograph machine utilizing a cartridge ink supply and having improved means for feeding ink out of the cartridge and into the drum.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved mimeograph machine of the type wherein the drum is internally inked, said machine utilizing a cartridge ink supply and having improved means for distributing the ink supply evenly over the surface of the drum.

'Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, in conjunction with the annexed drawing, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the improved machine.

ice

of the ink distribution system, said outer sleeve being shown developed for purposes of illustration.

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary section on line 1515 of FIG. 3 showing the actuating lever for the ink feeding system in depressed position, in full lines, and showing it in broken lines in the same position as in FIG. 3.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary section on line 1616 of FIG. 3, drawn to a large scale.

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary section on line 17-17 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 18 is a detail view, similar to FIG. 9, but showing a second embodiment of the ink distribution system within the drum.

FIG. 19 is a section on line 1919 of FIG. 18.

In the various views of the drawings, like reference characters refer to corresponding parts.

The invention provides, in a duplicating machine comprising a main frame, paper supply means, and a printing cylinder (FIG. 1 and FIG. 2), the improvement which comprises a sub-assembly (FIG. 4) removably mounted on the main frame and including the printing cylinder, an ink cartridge mount, and conduit means communicating the ink cartridge mount with the inside of the printing cylinder for delivery of ink from a cartridge in said cartridge mount to within said cylinder.

The cartridge mount is adapted to hold a tubular ink cartridge 70 for delivery of ink from an end of said cartridge as is required for printing. The cartridge mount includes a fitting for communicating the delivery end of the cartridge with the conduit means 21, and further includes follower means for pressing ink out of the delivery end of the ink cartridge, a follower shaft having the follower mounted thereon, and means for selectively advancing the follower along the shaft to deliver ink from the cartridge as is required for printing. The follower can include (FIG. 3) a piston 23a for travel through the tubular cartridge 70, and arm interconnecting the piston and the follower shaft for pushing the follower through the tube in response to operation of the advancing means. The arm can have a cutter mounted thereon for cutting the tube behind said piston to prevent advance of the arm over the length of the tube.

-A feature of the invention is means provided for distributing ink within the printing cylinder. See FIG. 6, FIG. 8, and FIG. 12. According to the invention, the printing cylinder can be provided with distributing means which comprise an ink receiving conduit for receiving ink FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the machine, viewed from the opposite side fromFIG. 1.. FIG. 3 is a top plan view: of the machine. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a sub-assembly of the machine. comprising the drum mechanism and ink cartridge assembly.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section on line 55 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary section on line 66 of FIG. 3. FIG. 7 is a detail of certain of the parts of the ink feeding mechanism, shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view, similar to FIG. 7, but show- FIG. 14 is a plan development view of the outer sleeve delivered to the cylinder, a distributing conduit communicated with the ink receiving conduit for distributing ink over internal surface of the cylinder, and means for selectively controlling the axial length of the cylinder over which ink is delivered from the distributing conduit.

General description The improved mimeograph machine in accordance with this invention generally includes a main franc 10 adapted to be supported on a table or the like and adapted in turn to support the movable parts of the machine.

The machine also includes a sub-assembly 20 which may be detached from frame 10, this sub-assembly 20 being shown generally in perspective view in FIG. 4, detached from the machine. Said sub-assembly 20 includes a frame 21 which supports an ink cartridge 22 fixedly and releasably, and also supports a drum 30 turnably. The cartridge 22 and the drum 30- both extend laterally, with drum 30 being turnable about its axis. Frame 21 includes passage for flow of ink in paste form from cartridge 22 into the interior of drum 30.

Frame 10 is appropriately cut out and has an appropriate cutout and block 11 on one side for reception of frame 21 to support one side of drum 30, and a hearing sleeve 33 mounted in the other side of frame 10 which tion thereof.

naled therein. Said sleeve 33 is turnable about a lateral axis within frame and is shaped to mesh with sleeve 32 on the proximate end of drum 30, was to drive drum 30. Appropriate means including handle 13 are employed to drive sleeve 33 and hence drive drum 30. It will be understood that the drum can be rotated electrically, rather than manually, if desired. a

With drum 30 thus releasably mounted in place, cartridge 22 is located in front of drum 30 and is supported in a laterally extending trough 40 in front of drum 30, said trough 40 being fixed to frame 10.

A piston assembly 23 is coupled to a laterally extending screw 24 extending between the sides of the frame, so that turning of screw 24 will move piston assembly 23 laterally. An actuating lever 25 is coupled to screw 24 so that manipulation of lever 25 turns screw 24 slightly to advance piston assembly 23 a small distance through the casing of cartridge 22, starting from the end thereof which is. remote from frame 21, so as to force ink out of cartridge 22. A hand wheel 26 directly mounted on screw 24 may be employed for retraction of piston 23 when the ink in cartridge 22 is exhausted, or when it is desired for any other reason to replace cartridge 22.

The ink in paste form travels from cartridge 22 through the interior of frame 21 and hence into ink distributor 50 which extends fixedly between the ends of drum 30, below the main axle 31. The ink from distributor 50' is transferred to the inner surface of drum 30 by rotary rollers 51 and 52, roller 51 being driven by gears coupled to main axle 31 and roller 52 being driven frictionally by drum 30.

An external sleeve 159 on the ink distributor 50 may be indexed by hand wheel 54 mounted on frame 21, so

I as to control the pattern of ink distribution to drum 30.

The stencil may be mounted upon drum 30 by means of clamping assembly 2, and paper may be fed through the machine by conventional means.

Drum and cartridge sub-assembly Main frame 10 includes side plates 12 and 14. For

I convenience, plate 12 will be defined as the left side plate and plate 14 will be defined as the right side plate, as viewed from the front of the machine. The feeding platform 15, which is not shown in detail since it is con ventional, isloca ted at thefront of the machine.

Frame 10 is not shown in detail, in that various laterally extending cross bracing members, which are conventional, are not shown. Optionally, frame 10 may be supported on four feet 16. V

Plate 12 has a cutout in its upper rear portion,-said cutout having an upwardly concave edge 12a. Plate 11 is mounted upon plate 12 so as to overlap the lower portion of the aforesaid edge 12a, said plate 11 being at tached to plate 12 by means of screws 11a which extend through longitudinally extending slots 11b in plate 11, so as to permit slight longitudinal adjustment of the posi- The upper edge of plate 11, adjacent its rear, is notched, as designated by the reference numeral 110, to serve as a seat for the rear of frame 21. Plate 11 extends to almost the front of plate 12 and there overlies notch 12 in the top of plate 12. The upper edge of plate 11, adjacent its front, is notched, as designated by the reference numeral 11c, to receive the rear of frame 21.

Plate 14 has an aperture 14a which opposes laterally the notch 110 in plate 11, with the outer portion of sleeve 33 extending turnably through said aperture 14a. Any appropriate bearing means may be provided in aperture 14a, if desired. Sleeve 33 has an intermediate portion 33a of increased diameter whose outer face slidably turnably abuts the inner face of plate 14. Outwardly of plate 14, gear 17 is fixedly mounted upon sleeve 33 by means of screw 17a.

The operating gears on the outer face of plate 14 are concealed by a hollow cover 18, which may have any centric 32b. At its bottom, eccentric 32b engages roller 4 suitable shape such as the shape shown in FIG. 2, and which may have inner flange ears 18a secured to plate 14 by means of screws 18b.

Handle 13 is mounted on the outer end of shaft 34, by means of screw 35, so as to extend transversely thereto. Shaft 34 extends through an opening 18c of the outer wall of cover 18 and extends turnably through an appropriate bearing opening in wall 14. Shaft 34 is held on the inside of plate 14 by means of any suitable retainer 34a. Gear 36 on shaft 34 meshes drivingly with gear 17 on sleeve 33.

Drum 30 includes left end wall 41 and right end wall 42. Said end walls 41 and 42 have inturned cylindrical peripheral flanges 43. The peripheral drum wall 44, most of which has perforations44a, is fixed to flanges 43, by means of counter-sunk screws 45 or by any other suitable means. Sleeve 32 on the outer face of wall 42 and plate 46 on the inner face of wall 42 are secured together by means of countersunk screws 47. Wall 42 has an aperture 42a, and plate 46 has a bore, which respectively registers with the bore of sleeve 32. Plate 46 has an inwardly extending sleeve bearing external gear 46a, the bore of which registers with the opening of plate 46. Sleeve 42 serves as'a bearing for the aforesaid main axle 31 of drum 30.

Sleeve 33 has an inner extension 33b of increased diameter, but which is semi-circular, and sleeve 32 hasan outward extension 32a also of increased diameter, which is also semi-circular, the two extensions 32a and 33b being of the same diameter and being adapted to mesh with their flat edges abutting each other, as shown in FIG. 11, when axle 31 is extended through sleeve 33. As a result, the turning of handle 13 causes the rotary movement of axle 31.

Sleeve 32 is formed on its outer periphery as an ec- 320 (FIG. 11), which is turnably mounted by lateral screw 3201 on the top of bar 32e. Lateral feed roller 32f below drum 30 is mounted on shaft 32h which is journaled in sleeve bearing 32g in an aperture in the lower,

end of bar 32e, Accordingly, roller 32 which is part of the feed mechanism, is raised into operative engagement with drum 30 and then lowered away therefrom once per rotation of drum 30 for feeding paper against the stencil. Further details of the feed mechanism are omitted since they are not part of the invention and are conventional.

Frame 21 includes a longitudinally extending bar 60 which may be in the form of a casting or may be otherend in an inwardly laterally extending extension 61 in the form of a collar. The bottom portion of the outer end of collar 61 is cut away. Collar 61 has a wall 62 intermediate its ends. (FIG. 9), which is transverse to the axis of collar 61. The inner end of collar 61 is fixed to drum wall 41. Sleeve bearing 63 is fixed to the inner face. of wall 41. Drum axle 31 extends turnably through sleeve bearing 63 and the corresponding aperture ofwall 41, and extends frictionally tightly into collar 61 and into abutment with the inner face of wall 62. Collar 61 and axle 31 are secured together by set screw 64.

Collar 61 is adapted to rest in notch 11c with bar 60 located outwardly of wall 12 and with drum wall 41 located inwardly of wall 12, and with the remote end of axle 31 being received within sleeve bearing 33.

In order to lock the drum in its mounted position, hook 192 is mounted upon plate 11 by means of lateral pivot 193a, said hook 132 being shaped and positioned to extend around and over member 61, as shown in FIG. 1. Handle 193 extends outwardly from the hook or latch member 192 and may be used for manipulation of the hook in an obvious manner so as to lock or unlock the element 61 in place.

Bar 60 has an inwardly extending boss 60a on its inner Said boss 60a has a screw threaded socket 60b extending inwardly from its inner face. Laterally extending shaft 66 has an outwardly extending extension 66a of reduced diameter, the outer end portion of which is screw threaded at 6612 and is threaded into socket 60b. Said extension 66b is received within plate notch 11e for support purposes. Annular washer 67 is interposed between the outer end of shaft portion 66a and the inner face of socket 60b. The inner end 660 of shaft 66 is of reduced diameter, and a knurled collar 68 is turnably mounted upon shaft portion 660. Collar 68 and shaft portion 660 are secured together from relative axial movement by means of a radial pin 69 in collar 68 which protrudes into the bore thereof and into an annular recess 69a of shaft portion 660.

Cartridge 22 has an elongated laterally extending peripheral wall 70 preferably made of plastic or other strong but severable material. Said wall 70 is fitted to an outer end plate 71 made of metal. Hollow laterally extending screw 72 is fixed at its inner end to end wall 71 by any suitable means and extends through an aperture thereof. The outer end of screw 72 is screwed into the inner threaded portion 68a of the bore of collar 68, with annular washer 73 interposed between the outer end of screw 72 and the inner face of shaft portion 66a. Wall 71 is spaced from the inner face of collar 63. It will be apparent that cartridge 22 may be separated from subassembly 21, or connected thereto as the case may be, by the proper rotary movement of collar 68.

Shaft 66 has a laterally extending through bore 74, the inner end portion 74d of which is flared and which connects with the bore of screw 72 and hence with the inner space of cartridge 22. Bore 74 communicates with a further co-axial bore 75 in bar 60, as shown in FIG. 17, and this further communicates with a longitudinally extending bore 76 in said bar 60. As shown in FIG. 5, bore 76 extends into a thickened portion 77 at the top of collar 61 and extending inwardly of the periphery thereof. In said thickened portion 77, bore 76 connects with a further laterally extending bore 78. Said bor 78 extends through the thickened portion 77 and the wall 62 with which it is integral, and hence communicates with a further lateral bore 79 in axle 31 (FIG. 9). Said bore 79 communicates at its inner end with a bore 80 which extends downwardly through axle 31 for ultimate communication with the ink distributor 50.

An actuating piston shaft 81 is fixed to the outside of piston plate 23a of piston assembly 23 and extends axially. Arm 82 is fixed to the outer end of shaft 81 and extends transversely or radially therefrom. The free end portion 82a of arm 82 is arcuate and has a partscrew thread 83 adapted to mesh with the thread of screw 24, as shown in FIG. '7. The top of arm portion 82a connects with collar 84 through which a laterally extending bar 85 extends. The ends of bar 85 are connected to transverse and generally longitudinally rearwardly extending arms 86 which are connected at their free ends by lateral pivots 87 to the respective frame side plates 12 and 14. Accordingly, by raising bar 85, as shown in FIG. 8, the meshing portion 82a may be brought out of operative engagement with screw 24.

Means are provided for locking the screw threaded portion 82a on screw 24, releasably. Hook 88 has a collar head 89 with a lateral through bore through which bar 85 extends. Handle 90 on hook 88 extends radially therefrom. In the turned position of hook 88 of FIG. 6, the hook 88 extends around the bottom of screw 24 and locks meshing portion 82a in place.

Means are provided for releasably locking hook 88 in its locking position. Lever 91 is connected by lateral pivot 92 to arm 82 below meshing portion 82a. Latch member 93 extends transversely to lever 92 and is adapted to engage frictionally under latch member 94 on collar member 89 in the position of FIG. 6. Link 95 couples lever 91 and latch member 94. By turning lever member 91 in teeth 101a.

the clockwise direction, as taken in FIG. 7, lat-ch member 93 releases latch member 94 and hook 88 is swung clear of screw member 24. This permits the entire piston assembly 23 to be lifted clear of trough 40 when cartridge 22 is to be replaced.

To look the assembly, element is first swung to position to locate hook 88 under screw 24, and lever 91 .is then pivoted to catch member 93 undermember 94. There is sufiicient play in the connection of link to members 91 and 94 to permit the locking and unlocking operations as above described.

Cartridge 22 'is provided with a cap-like member 24b slidably positioned therein for extrusion of ink therefrom. Piston. dish or plate 23a engages member 2417 to force it in the direction to extrude ink from cartridge 22. Bracket 240 on the right face of the end portion of member 24b carries turnably serrated cutter wheel 24a. This engages the periphery of cartridge 22 so as to cut a lateral slot 220: therein. Slit 22a receives arm. 82 during the follower movement of piston assembly 23.

In order to turn screw 24, lever 25 is mounted intermediate its ends upon wall 14 by means of lateral pivot pin (FIG. 15). Pivot pin extends turnably through an opening of lever 25 and is fixed to wall 14 by any suitable means. Ratchet wheel 101 is turnably mounted upon pivot 100. Gear 102 is fixedly mounted upon ratchet wheel 101 and is concentric therewith. Gear 102 meshes with gear 103 which is mounted upon wall 14 by means of stub shaft 104. Gear 104 meshes with gear 105 on screw 24. Rearwardly of pivot 100, pawl 106 is turnably mounted on lever 25 by means of pivot 107. Below pivot 107, lever 106 has a forwardly extending extension 106a carrying a laterally outwardly extending head 108. Outwardly of lever 25, arm 109 is fixed to pivot 100 and extends rearwardly downwardly therefrom. Spring 110 extends between lever 25 and arm 109, spring 110 being connected to lever 25 rearwardly of pivot 100 so as to urge the front end finger portion 25a of lever 25 upwardly to its broken line position of FIG. 15 and full line position of FIG. 2, which is its normal position. In the normal position of lever 25, head 108 engages the upper part of arm 109, so as to turn pawl 106 clockwise about the axis of pivot 107, as taken in FIG. 15, and bring it out of engagement with the teeth 101a of ratchet wheel 101. Arm 25 is movable between upper and lower stops 111 and 112 on wall 14.

When force is exerted on finger piece 25a to depress the front end of lever 25, the weight of the lower portion 106a of pawl 106 tends to turn it counterclockwise, as taken in FIG. 15, so that pawl 106 can engage the Accordingly, the stroke of lever 25 causes a turning of screw 24 so as to drive piston 23. When lever 25 is released, spring 110 returns it to its normal position, with pawl 106 being automatically disengaged from ratchet teeth 1010. As a result of this construction, when it is desired to retract piston 23, hand wheel 26 which is mounted on screw 24 outwardly of lever 25 may be turned for the desired retracting movement s n e pawl 106 is automatically disengaged from ratchet teeth 101a. Hand wheel 26 is mounted on shaft portion 24a of screw 24 by means of integral collar 26a which extends through an opening of cover 18 and hence onto said shaft portion 24a. Lever 25 projects rearwardly through an appropriate slot 180. of the front of cover 18.

Ink distribution system As mentioned above, the ink is forced into axle 31 and through transverse bore 80 to the bottom end of said bore 80. The ink distributor 50 and other parts are supported by left plate (FIG. 9) and right plate 151 (FIG. 11). Axle 31 extends through said plates 1-50 and 151, and said plates are secured to axle31 by any suitable means. Plate 150 has a boss 152 on its outer face, and this boss 152 extends to the lower surface of axle 31. Said boss 152 has a vertical bore 153 which extends to the upper end thereof and which communicates with bore 80. Bore 153 has an inwardly turned branch portion 153 at its lower end which extends through plate 150.

Ink distributor 50 includes four tubes 154, 155, 156 and 157 which extend laterally and whose ends are imbedded in the respective plates 150 and 151. Distributor 50 also includes a fixed sleeve 158 which surrounds the four tubes 154, 155, 1.56 and 157 and a turnable sleeve 159 which surrounds sleeve 158. Bore 153 communicates with the bore of tube 154. The number of apertures and number of tubes referred to in this disclosure are by way of illustration.

Tube 155 is located above tube 154, tube 156 is located above tube 157 and tube 156 is located side-by-side with tube 155 and tube 157 side-by-side with tube 154, in the manner shown in FIG. 12 and other views. Sleeve 158 abuts the outer peripheries of the tubes in the manner shown in FIG. 12 and other views. Tube 154 has an outlet hole 154a centrally located on the periphery there of. Tube 155 has an inlet hole 160. These holes 154a and 160 are in registration and are located in the abutting portions of tubes 154 and 1155. Tube 155 has a pair of outlet holes 155a on the periphery thereof symmetrically located with respect to the length thereof. Tube 156 has a pair of inlet holes 161 located in registration with holes 155a in the abutting portions of tubes 155 and 156. Tube 156 has four outlet holes 156a located in the periphery thereof and symmetrically spaced in the direction of length thereof. Tube 157 has four inlet holes 162 located in the portion thereof in abutment with tube 156' and in abutting registration with holes 156a. Tube 157 has eight outlet holes 163 in the bottom thereof. It will be apparent that the paste ink when placed under pressure is forced through the tubes in succession and finally comes out evenly through the eight outlet holes 163. The space 164 bounded by the two tubes 154 and 157 and by sleeve 158 serves as a reservoir for ink. Sleeve 158 has sixteen outlet holes 165 in the bottom of reservoir 164, and evenly distributed along the length thereof. Accordingly, the ink flows evenly through the respective outlet holes 165.

Sleeve 159, as shown in the development of FIG. 14, has sixteen holes 159a along the line designated by the code letter F standing for full, five outlet holes 15% along the line L standing for left, six outlet holes 159c along the line designated by the code letter C standing for Center, and five outlet holes 159d along the line designated by the code letter R standing for right. The holes 159a are evenly distributed along the entire length of sleeve 159. The holes 15% are located at the left side of the sleeve, the holes 1590 at the center and the holes 159d at the right. The four sets of holes are evenly distributed circumferentially around the periphery of sleeve 159.

Sleeve 159 carries on its left end a gear 166. Gear,

166 meshes with gear 167 which extends into a slot 168 of axle 31 and is there mounted on lateral shaft 169. Lateral shaft 169 is appropriately journaled in axle 31 on each side of slot 168 and extends turnably through a bore of axle 31 and through wall 62. Collar 170 is fixedly mounted on shaft 169 by means of set screw 171, said collar 170 being turnably rotatably journaled in a through bore of wall 62 and extending to the left thereof. Bevel gear 172 on the outer end of collar 170 meshes with bevel gear 173 on longitudinal shaft 174. This shaft 1'74 extends turnably through a longitudinal bore of arm 60, adjacent the bottom thereof. In front of arm 60, indexing wheel 54 is mounted on said shaft 174 by means of screw 54a, said indexing wheel 54 being knurled on its periphery and having the four markings F, L, C and R equally circumferentially disposed around the front face thereof. An appropriate pointer (not shown) may be mounted on the casing to determine the desired turned position of wheel 54. Depending upon which of the markings of wheel 54 is opposite the pointer, the corresponding line of holes of sleeve 159 shown in FIG. 14 will be located under the reservoir 164. Accordingly, by means of a simple adjustment, either ink can be supplied through the entire drum, or to the left side, the center portion or the right side, thereof, as desired.

In order to ensure proper indexing of sleeve 159, flange 1592 is mounted upon sleeve 159 adjacent plate 151. Flange 159a has four equally spaced peripheral notches 159i. Detent lever 159g is centrally pivoted to plate 151 by means of pivot 15% and carries on one end a roller 159 Spring 159k extends between the other end of lever 159g and pin 159m on plate 151 so as to urge roller 1591' against the periphery of fiange 159e. Roller 159 enters a respective notch 1591 in each of the four indexed portions of sleeve 159.

The previously mentioned roller 51 is located in vertical registration with the ink distributor with the periphery of roller 51 passing very close to the periphery of sleeve 159. Accordingly, ink passing through the outlet holes of sleeve 159 is transferred to roller 51. Roller 51 is mounted on shaft 51a, the ends of which are journaled in plates and 151, with said shaft 50a extending through plate 151. Gear 46a on axle 31 meshes with gear on stub shaft 181 mounted on plate 151, and gear 180 in turn meshes with idler gear 180a on stub shaft 181a mounted on plate 151. Gear 180a meshes with gear 182 mounted upon the outer end of shaft 51a. Accordingly, the turning of the drum causes turning of the ink transfer roller 51.

Outwardly of plates 150 and 151, respective lever arms 185 are turnably mounted upon shaft 51a. The aforesaid roller 52, which may be made of rubber, is mounted turnably upon shaft 52a which is mounted upon respective ends of lever arms 185. The peripheries of rollers 51 and 52 are in close proximity and remain so even when the levers 185 are slightly rocked. Tension springs 186 are mounted at their lowerends on the levers 185, adjacent the ends thereof opposite roller 52, and are attached at their upper ends to respective pins 187 on axle 31. As taken in FIG. 6, the tendency of the spring 186 is to move roller 52 counterclockwise around the axis of shaft 51a, thereby maintaining roller 52 in frictional engagement with the inner periphery of the drum. As a result, roller 52 is turned by the turning drum and transfers ink to the inner periphery of the drum. At the extreme end of each arm 185 adjacent spring 186, brush 190 is mounted upon lever 185 by means of mounting 191 or any other suitable mounting (not shown in detail). Said brushes 190 extend downwardly from lever arms 185 and scrape against the periphery of the drum. These brushes 190 are located slightly outwardly of the outer ends or roller 52 and thereby serve to prevent ink from building up on the ends of the drum.

Ink distribution systemsec0nd embodiment A second embodiment of the ink distribution system is shown in FIGS. 18 and 19.

Plate portion 152 is substantially the same as in the first embodiment. Plate 301 replaces plate 151. Hollow shaft 302 has an open end which is fixed within bore portion 153a. The other end of shaft 302 extends into plate 301 and is closed at 303. End disks 304, which may be gaskets, are fitted on shaft 302 respectively against plate portion 152 and plate 301. Pins or flanges, optionally six in number, are fixed to the shaft 302 and are respectively designated by the reference numerals 305, 306, 307, 308, 309 and 310. Said flanges are equally spaced around the periphery of shaft 302 and extend radially outwardly therefrom. Said flanges extend sealingly between disks 304. Sleeve 311 extends around said flanges 305, 306, 307, 308, 309 and 310, and the flanges abut sleeve 311 frictionally. Disks 304 are received frictionally within sleeve 311. The result isto divide the space between shaft 302 and sleeve 311 into six compartments.

9 Flange 305 has no aperture and is located adjacent the bottom of sleeve 311. Shaft 302 receives ink from the cartridge and has a single outlet hole 302a into the compartment between flanges 305 and 306. Flange 306 has two outlet holes 306a into the compartment between flanges 306 and 307. a

Only one of the holes in each flange is in the crosssection of FIG. 18, but it will be understood that the hole distribution is analogous to that of the tubes shown in FIG. 13.

Flange 307 has four outlet holes 307a into the compartment between flanges 307 and 308. Flange 308 has eight outlet holes 308a into the compartment between flanges 308 and 309. Flange 309 has sixteen outlet holes 309a into the compartment between flanges 309 and 310. Flange 310 has thirty-two outlet holes 310a into the bottom compartment between flanges 305 and 310. Sleeve 311 has thirty-two outlet holes 313 from the compartment between flanges 305 and 310. Sleeve 312 is turnably mounted upon sleeve 311 and is substantially the same as sleeve 158, except for the number of holes in the various positions of sleeve 312. Thus, sleeve 312, in its position F, has thirty-two holes 314 which respectively register with and are slightly wider than holes 313.

Sleeve 312 is driven by gears 166 and 167, as in the first embodiment. The detent means for control of the indexed position of sleeve 312 are omitted from the drawing, for convenience of illustration, but clearly any suitable detent means, such as-that of the first embodiment, may be provided.

It will be apparent that the operation of the ink distribution system is on the same principle in both embodiments. The remainder of the ink distribution system of the second embodiment is not shown since it is the same as in the first embodiment.

The clamping assembly Clamping assembly 2 is best shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 16. Clamping assembly 2 includes a part-cylindrical plate 200 which rests against the outer periphery of the drum. The lateral edge portions of plate 200 are turned back and upwardly upon themselves to form flanges 201. A cotton sheet 202a is extended around the periphery of the drum. The ends of sheet 202a are connected to rubber sheet portions 202. Each sheet portion 202 has fixed thereto end hooks 203 which are adapted to be releasably engaged under tension between a respective flange 201 and plate 200, in the manner clearly shown in the drawing. This serves to secure the stretchable sheet 202a, 202 and the plate 200 to the drum.

A laterally spaced row of pins 205 extends upwardly from plate 202. Each pin 205 is cylindrical except for a flat 205a on one face thereof. The head of stencil 1 is mounted upon the pins 205, with pins 205 extending through appropriate holes in the head of stencil 1. Said holes in the stencil may be preformed, or may be punched out by pins 205 in the manner now to be described. Spring plate 206 has a laterally extending portion 206a which is fixedly mounted upon plate 200 and spaced from pins 205. Plate 206 has a lateral row of spaced round holes 206' which are adapted to register with respective pins 205. Metal cover plate 207 is mounted upon plate 200 by means of lateral hinge 208. Said plate 207 is adapted to be turned so as to force plate 206 downwardly upon the pins 205 and so as to rest against sheet 202, 202a in overlying relationship to flange, 201.

Plate 209 is mounted upon plate 200 by means of lateral hinge 208a which is spaced from hinge 208. Plate 209 is adapted to be turned so as to rest against sheet 202, 202a in overlying relation to the flange 203 and against the tail end of stencil 1.

Hinges 208 and 208a are the same, and each includes a plurality of spaced square channels 215 formed on the end of plate 207 or 209, as the case may be, alternated with channels 216 fixed to plate 200. Lateral pins 217 on each channel 216 extend turnably into the adjacent channels 215. As the result of the square shape of channels 215, plates 207 and 209 tend to remain stable in either their clamping positions or their open positions, since only in these positions are they clear of plate 200. In order to tend to maintain plates 207 and 209 in their respective positions, spring 210 extends between hinges 208 and 208a, on plate 210. Spring 210 is an elongated zigzag shaped piece of metal having portions 210a which abut hinge 208 and portions 210k which abut hinge 208a, the abutment being against channels 215.

When clamping plate 207 is opened or raised, it serves as a convenient carrying handle for the drum and ink feeding sub-assembly. With both plates 207 and 209 raised, the stencil may be inserted, and plates 207 and 209 may be moved to clamping position. The squaredoff shape of pins 205 tendsto retain the punch-out pieces of paper of stencil 1 resulting from the penetration of pins 205 through holes 206 of plate 206.

Summary of operation While the operation of the machine should be clear from the foregoing, it may be briefly summarized as follows:

Cartridge 22 is secured to the drum assembly by manipulation of collar 68.

The cartridge and drum sub-assembly 20, containing ink of the desired color, is mounted in the machine with cartridge 22 in through 40 and with shaft extension 6612 in notch He, and also with drum axle 31 in bearing sleeve 33, sleeve extensions 33b and 32a in meshing relationship and collar 61 in notch 11c. Latch 192 is manipulated to locking position.

Knob 54 is indexed so as to turn sleeve 159 to position for the desired pattern of ink distribution. Bar 85, which has been in raised position, is moved forwardly downwardly to permit arm position 82a to be operatively engaged with'screw 24, with arm 82 lowered so as to drop piston disc 23a into the trough 40 in lateral registration with the bore of cartridge 22.

The head of stencil 1 is placed over pins 205, and plate 207 is moved to clamping position, with plate 206 thereby forcing the stencil onto the pins to punch holes in the stencil. The stencil is extended around the periphery of the drum and secured in place by clamping plate 209. Looking member 88 is swung under screw 24, and tab 93 is moved lockingly under member 94. Lever 25 is depressed whatever number of times is necessary so as to force piston disk 23a into cartridge 22 and therebyforce ink onto roller 51.

Operating handle 13 is turned so as to rotate the drum assembly and thereby transfer ink from roller 51 to the drum. With paper in the feeding mechanism, the further turning of handle 13 causes paper to be drawn under and against the stencil and ink to be transferred to the paper in the usual manner.

When it is desired to change the cartridge, knob 26 can be turned so as to rotate screw 24 and retract piston disk 23a from cartridge 22. The latching members 93' and 88 may then be released, and disk 23a may be raised. Latch 192 may be released, and the drum and cartridge can be removed as a unit, optionally using plate 206 in its raised position as a handle. Alternatively, the drum can remain in place, and the cartridge may be unscrewed by means of knob 68.

It will be apparent that the sequence of operation can be varied to meet specific operating conditions.

While I have disclosed preferred embodiments of my invention and have indicated various changes, omissions and additions which can be made therein, it will be apparent that various other changes, omissions and additions may be made in the invention without departing from the scope and spirit thereof.

As an example of one possible change, member 24b can be eliminated; and cutter wheel 24aand an appropriate support therefore can be mounted on arm 82 in proper position to cut slit 22a in cartridge wall 7 What is claimed is:

1. In a duplicating machine comprising a main frame, paper supply means and a printing cylinder, the improvement which comprises a sub-assembly removably mounted on said frame and including the printing cylinder, an ink cartridge mount, and conduit means communicating the ink cartridge mount with the inside of the printing cylinder for delivery of ink from a cartridge in said cartridge mount to within said cylinder, distributing means Within said cylinder for distributing ink over internal surface of said drum, the distributing means including an ink receiving conduit for receiving ink delivered to the printing cylinder and a distributing conduit communicated with the ink recieving conduit for the distribution of ink over the internal surface of the cylinder, said distributing conduit being disposed axially within the cylinder and having an ink inlet; a plurality of axially extending partitions dividing the distributing conduit into a plurality of axially extending compartments, means defining at least one opening in each of said partitions for communicating said compartments for series flow of ink therethrough, the openings in each partition being distributed over a greater length thereof from partition to partition in the direction of flow from the said ink inlet, whereby to obtain improved distribution of the ink, and ink outlet means for delivering ink from the last of said compartments in the direction of flow of ink through the distributor.

2. A duplicating machine according to claim 1, said distributing means including a sleeve disposed over said distributing conduit, said ink outlet means delivering ink over the length of the distributing means, said sleeve including means defining openings therein for alignment with the outlet means of the distributing conduit, said sleeve being rotatable on the distributing conduit permitting selected opening and closing of said outlet means.

3. A duplicating machine according to claim 1, said ink outlet means being adapted to deliver ink over the length of the distributing means, said distributing means including means for selectively sealing portions of the outlet means to control the length along the cylinder over which ink is delivered from the distributing means.

4. A duplicating machine according to claim 1, said ink outlet means being adapted to deliver ink over the length of the distributing means, said distributing means including a close fitting sleeve over said distributing conduit, said sleeve being rotatable with respect to (the distributing conduit, circumferentially spaced openings in said sleeve for alignment with respective portions of said outlet according to the position of the sleeve on the distributing conduit, whereby axially extending portions of said conduit can be selected for delivery of ink from the distributiug means.

5. A duplicating machine according to claim 4, and selector means for selectively positioning the sleeve on the conduit.

6. A duplicating machine according to claim 4, said cylinder being rotatably mounted on said main frame, and said distributing means being fixedly mounted within said cylinder.

7. For a duplicating machine, the combination of a printing cylinder and distributing means for distributing ink over internal surface of the cylinder, said distributing means being disposed within the cylinder, the distributing means including an ink receiving conduit for receiving ink delivered to the printing cylinder and a distributing conduit communicated with the ink receiving conduit for the distribution of ink over the internal surface of the cylinder, said distributing conduit'being disposed axially within the cylinder and having an ink inlet, a plurality of axially extending partitions dividing the distributing conduit into a plurality of axially extending compartments, means defining at least one opening in each of said partitions for communicating said compartments for series flow of ink therethrough, the openings in each partition being distributed over a greater length thereof from partition to partition in the direction of flow from the said ink inlet, whereby to obtain improved distribution of the ink, and ink outlet means for delivering ink from the last of said compartments in the direction of flow'of ink through the distributor.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 769,928 9/1904 Ziegler 222- 1,541,787 6/1925 Cadgene et al. 101-120 1,633,596 6/1927 Lievens 101-119 2,044,462 6/1936 Bueno 101-120 2,070,206 2/1937 Hudson 15-556 2,292,602 8/1942 Biondi 101-116 2,419,694 4/1947 Shuttleworth et al. 101-129 2,546,304 3/1951 Huebner 101-116 2,575,870 11/1951 Gates 222-80 3,002,449 10/1961 Sherman 101-119 3,104,031 9/1963 Wagner 222-80 DAVID KLEIN, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A DUPLICATING MACHINE COMPRISING A MAIN FRAME, PAPER SUPPLY MEANS AND A PRINTING CYLINDER, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES A SUB-ASSEMBLY REMOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME AND INCLUDING THE PRINTING CYLINDER, AN INK CARTRIDGE MOUNT, AND CONDUIT MEANS COMMUNICATING THE INK CARTRIDGE MOUNT WITH THE INSIDE OF THE PRINTING CYLINDER FOR DELIVERY OF INK FROM A CARTRIDGE IN SAID CARTRIDGE MOUNT TO WITHIN SAID CYLINDER, DISTRIBUTING MEANS WITHIN SAID CYLINDER FOR DISTRIBUTING INK OVER INTERNAL SURFACE OF SAID DRUM, THE DISTRIBUTING MEANS INCLUDING AN INK RECEIVING CONDUIT FOR RECEIVING INK DELIVERED TO THE PRINTING CYLINDER AND A DISTRIBUTING CONDUIT COMMUNICATED WITH THE INK RECEIVING CONDUIT FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF INK OVER THE INTERNAL SURFACE OF THE CYLINDER, SAID DISTRIBUTING CONDUIT BEING DISPOSED AXIALLY WITHIN THE CYLINDER AND HAVING AN INK INLET, A PLURALITY OF AXIALLY EXTENDING PARTITIONS DIVIDING THE DISTRIBUTING CONDUIT INTO A PLURALITY OF AXIALLY EXTENDING COMPARTMENTS, MEANS DEFINING AT LEAST ONE OPENING IN EACH OF SAID PARTITIONS FOR COMMUNICATING SAID COMPARTMENTS FOR SERIES FLOW OF INK THERETHROUGH, THE OPENINGS IN EACH PARTITION BEING DISTRIBUTED OVER A GREATER LENGTH THEREOF FROM PARTITION TO PARTITION IN THE DIRECTION OF FLOW FROM THE SAID INK INLET, WHEREBY TO OBTAIN IMPROVED DISTRIBUTION OF THE INK, AND INK OUTLET MEANS FOR DELIVERING INK FROM THE LAST OF SAID COMPARTMENTS IN THE DIRECTION OF FLOW OF INK THROUGH THE DISTRIBUTOR. 